Zhao Zhen glanced at the ministers and said: "The treasury is empty, what is the good plan for the Qing family?" ”

The huge court was silent for a while, and nearly a hundred ministers were silent, some shaking their heads and sighing, and some quietly watching.

The problem of revenue is a problem that has plagued the rulers of successive dynasties, and the excessive collection is not conducive to the long-term peace and stability of the dynasty, and many dynasties have risen up because the taxes are too heavy, forcing the people to have no way out, and playing the banner of overthrowing tyranny. However, the collection is light, and the treasury has no money, and it is difficult for a court without money to make a difference.

When the treasury has no money, the usual practice is to raise taxes, which is the fastest way to fill the treasury, but its side effects are also very big, not to mention the boiling of public resentment, the key is to overdraft the national economy, the result is often to drink water to quench thirst, into a vicious circle, and the more the cycle is worse and worse!

Du Yan, the secretary of the Criminal Department, said: "Now there is only tax collection in advance. ”

In the imperial history, Chenglu Zongdao objected: "No, it is not yet the autumn harvest season, this is the most difficult time of the year for the people, how can taxes be levied at this time, absolutely not." ”

Zhang Shixun, the sixth Shangshu Deng Guogong, also said: "The imperial court has implemented a policy of recuperation and recuperation in recent years, and the lives of the people have just improved in recent years, so it is really not appropriate to increase taxes." ”

Now that someone had started to do so, the ministers began to discuss, some in favor of raising taxes, others against, and for a while the court was in a state of quarrel.

Zhao Zhen's original intention was unwilling to collect taxes, but now it seems that there is no other way, either open source or throttle. Since it can't be open sourced, then there is only throttling.

Zhao Zhen waved his hand to signal the ministers to stop talking, and then said: "I think that after setting aside the silver for the repair of the imperial tomb, I will minimize unnecessary expenses, and the remaining silver will save some flowers, and it should be able to last until the new tax revenue is collected this autumn, right?" ”

Ding Wei, as the prime minister, at this time is the most decisive time, he flashed out and said: "What Your Majesty said is extremely true, since the treasury is tight, Your Majesty is sympathetic to the people and unwilling to increase taxes, then the only way is to save expenses, and now there are less than two months before the new taxes are levied, and the old minister feels that he should be able to get through this difficult period by gritting his teeth." ”

Since the prime minister has expressed his position, the other ministers who follow him have a bottom, and Jiang Zongren, the secretary of Dali Temple, said: "Even if you can't hold on in the end, you can choose a few states and counties that are given to collect taxes a little earlier." ”

Zhao Zhen nodded, this can only be the case now, I can't imagine that the dignified Song Dynasty has become so poor!

At this time, Chenglu Zongdao in the imperial history suddenly played: "Your Majesty, the minister feels that in addition to taxation and saving expenses, there is another way!" ”

As soon as Lu Zongdao's words came out, one stone stirred up a thousand waves, and all the ministers looked at him one after another, wanting to hear what the method was.

Even Liu E also looked to Lu Zongdao that Lu Zongdao had always been steady, and Zhenzong relied on him a lot during his reign, and even engraved his name "Lu Zhi" on the screen, so that everyone could learn from him.

Zhao Zhen hurriedly said: "Lord Lu, please speak." ”

Lu Zongdao said aloud under the gaze of the ministers: "Your Majesty, the old minister has a book here, which was presented to His Majesty by the old minister's student Entrusted to the old minister. ”

The little eunuch on the side hurriedly took the fold and handed it to Zhao Zhen quickly.

Zhao Zhen opened the fold curiously, his face was still a little curious at the beginning, but the more he looked at it, the more ugly his face became, and when he finished reading it, he buckled the fold heavily, and said angrily: "How can this be reasonable, what is really unreasonable!" ”

The ministers looked at each other, what was the content of the excerpt, and why did His Majesty be so angry after reading it?

Ding Weihu glanced at Lu Zongdao suspiciously, the people below handed over the excerpt without going through Zhongshu Province, but it was presented by this strong old man, could it be that the old man was impeached again?

Liu E ordered the little eunuch to go to the fold and take a look, and her face was a little unhappy after reading it, she asked solemnly: "Lord Lu, is the content of this fold true?" ”

Lu Zongdao knelt on the ground and said: "Empress Dowager Qiyu, this is handed over by the old minister's student, the old minister dares to guarantee with his life, my student will never talk nonsense!" ”

"Humph! These corrupt officials are really hateful! Liu E said heavily after receiving Lu Zongdao's affirmative reply.

The ministers were still waiting to announce what was going on, and Ding Wei had no choice but to say, "Dare to ask the Queen Mother, what is it that makes you and Your Majesty so angry?" ”

"Master Lu will tell them." Liu E said.

Lu Zongdao said: "The officials of the Cangzhou Salt Farm in Hejian Prefecture, Hebei East Road, have been guarding and stealing all year round, privately raising the price of official salt in the market, but secretly selling illegal salt for huge profits behind their backs, and their income is as much as 100,000 taels in just one year! After so many years of accumulation, I am afraid that there will be more than a million. ”

The ministers were taken aback, it is a fact that everyone knows that the officials of the salt and iron mine are greedy for some small money, but they did not expect the officials of the Cangzhou salt field to dare to act so boldly.

Ding Wei's face became ugly, because Cangzhou Salt Farm was so corrupt and perverted the law, it was impossible for the Hebei East Road Envoy not to know, and he, as the largest local administrator, must have also taken a piece of the pie, and it was a big piece of the pie! And the envoy of Hebei East Road is his protégé Pan Liangbi.

"Cangzhou Salt Mine is just a small salt mine, a small salt mine can be greedy for millions of silver, but what about other salt mines and iron mines?" Zhao Zhen asked with a cold face.

The ministers finally understood the third method that Lu Zongdao said, that is, to punish corruption!

When the officials were silent, a young official came out and said: "Since Emperor Zhenzong came, including His Majesty's accession to the throne for more than ten years, our dynasty has never carried out the rectification of the rule of officials in the past few decades. ”

Some ministers are secretly asking who this young official is? This person looks like he is in his thirties, and he has never seen him in the court before, so it seems that he is newly transferred to Beijing.

A minister on the side whispered: "This person is the new head of the Secret Pavilion, named Fan Zhongyan. ”

Liu E nodded and said: "The old body has indeed ignored this problem in the past few years, but I didn't expect that these people have become lawless to such a point, it's time to punish them." ”

Since Liu E has already expressed his attitude, Zhao Zhen also has a bottom in his heart, and he didn't ask Ding Wei, and immediately said: "Okay, I will order Lord Lu to be the inspector and go to Hebei East Road to thoroughly investigate this matter, and transfer the former secretary of the palace, Marquis Yu Li Ce, to lead troops to accompany him to protect Lord Lu's safety." ”

"Your Majesty, at this time, it was played by Lord Lu, and the excerpt was handed over by Lord Lu's protégé, and the old minister felt that it was inappropriate to send Lord Lu there." Ding Wei said something to stop him.

Lu Zongdao said coldly: "Does the Prime Minister think that the old man will bend the law for personal gain? ”

Ding Wei said lightly: "The old man didn't mean that, but in order to avoid suspicion, it is better not to go to Lord Lu, and besides, Lord Lu is already sixty years old, and it is a long way to go to Hebei East Road. ”

Ding Wei is worthy of being an old fox, but this remark is high-sounding.

Lu Zongdao snorted: "The old man is very tough, and it only takes five or six days to go to Hebei East Road, and the old man can afford to toss." ”

However, when Ding Wei said this, Zhao Zhen was also worried, Lu Zongdao was the oldest minister in the dynasty, although his body was still quite tough, but after all, he was already there, and if something really happened along the way, he would feel guilty.

Thinking of this, Zhao Zhen said: "The prime minister is reasonable, then choose a young official to go." ”

Lu Zongdao was still a little angry, Zhang Shixun grabbed him and said: "Master Lu, you and I are both old, let the young people do this kind of thing, and it can be regarded as giving them a chance to practice."

Hearing Zhang Shixun say this, Lu Zongdao had no choice but to shake his head and sigh.

Ding Wei made a look, and Du Yan, the secretary of the Criminal Department, hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the minister is willing to go." ”

Zhao Zhen glanced at Du Yan and sneered in his heart: Although I agree with Ding Wei to replace Lu Zongdao, I will not use your people.

Feng Kaiji, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, also said: "Your Majesty, the minister is willing to go." ”

Of course Zhao Zhen is willing to let Feng Kaiji go, he is the one who supports him, and when he comes back after checking, he has the credit, and he can justifiably mention his official.

Unexpectedly, without waiting for him to speak, Jiang Zongren, the secretary of Dali Temple, said coldly: "I'm afraid that the waiter of the Ministry of Rites is not qualified enough, right?" ”

Feng Kaiji, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, is a fifth-grade official, and the lowest inspector is usually a fourth-rank official, and Du Yan, the waiter of the Criminal Department, is precisely the fourth-rank official.

Zhao Zhen had to find another candidate, but he glanced at the ministers in the hall and found that most of the young officials were Ding Wei's people, except for Chen Yaozuo, Zhang Shixun and a few other old ministers, the rest of the people were either the queen mother's, or Ding Wei's, or Zhao Ji's, but his own dignified son of heaven in the Song Dynasty became the smallest one!

Chen Yaozuo and Zhang Shixun glanced at each other, Chen Yaozuo frowned and said in his heart, Otherwise, go by yourself, how can you say that you are not yet fifty years old, anyway, you can't let Ding Wei's people go.

"Your Majesty, the minister is the head of the secret cabinet, and according to the position, the minister can also serve as an inspector." It was Fan Zhongyan who spoke.

Zhao Zhen looked at him, this Fan Zhongyan had just been transferred to Beijing from other places, but he heard that he was somewhat famous, but he didn't know how this person's conduct was, and whether he would be co-opted by Ding Wei.

Chen Yaozuo and Zhang Shixun both said: "The minister approves of Lord Fan as an inspector. ”

Du Yan was in a hurry and looked at Ding Wei, Ding Wei frowned, and wanted to speak when he came out of the queue again.

Zhao Zhen still had doubts, but when he saw that Chen Yaozuo and Zhang Shixun had joined forces to protect the promotion, he had no doubts in his heart at the moment, and when he saw that Ding Wei was about to obstruct it again, he hurriedly said: "Okay, then I will order Master Fan to be the inspector!" ”

Ding Wei still said: "Your Majesty ......"

"Okay, this matter is settled, don't say anything more about it, Prime Minister." Zhao Zhen said.

Ding Wei hesitated for a moment but continued: "Your Majesty, the old minister is not against Lord Fan being appointed as an inspector. ”

"Huh?"

This time, not only Zhao Zhen was a little confused, but Du Yan also looked unconvinced, and Chen, Zhang and others were also wondering what Ding Wei was thinking about this old fox.

I only heard Ding Wei say: "The old minister thinks it is inappropriate to send the former secretary of the palace to Marquis Yu." ”

Zhao Zhen was a little angry in his heart, and thought that Ding Wei had changed his sex, it turned out that he couldn't make a plan, and he had two plans, he saw that the position of the inspector couldn't be contested, so he wanted to fight for the position of the guard, and the position of the guard was specially left to him by Zhao Zhen in order to justifiably promote Li Ce, how could he let it out.

Chen Yaozuo was more anxious than Zhao Zhen, and when he heard this, his face pulled and said, "What's inappropriate?" ”

Ding Wei said: "The duty of the Wansheng Army is to protect Your Majesty's safety, how can you ignore Your Majesty's safety for the sake of a salt case?" ”

Ding Wei said it righteously, but Zhao Zhen didn't appreciate it at all, you old thing want to take me out to block the gun?

He coughed lightly and said, "That, I have the protection of the Ouchi guards, so the prime minister doesn't need to worry too much." ”

Chen Yaozuo said: "It doesn't have to be Marquis Du Yu himself to protect His Majesty, Marquis Du Yu went to guard the patrol envoy this time, and he didn't necessarily have to bring all the troops of the Wansheng Army, it was enough to bring a hundred and ten people, and the rest of the forbidden army could still protect His Majesty?" ”

Du Yan came out to help and said: "It's a long way to Cangzhou, and the people who guard it must be strong in martial arts. Du Yan had just been robbed of the fat difference he had just received, and he complained in his stomach, and at this time he wanted to fight for his son for the beauty of this guard. In fact, everyone knows that the possibility of encountering thieves who dare to openly rob the official army is very small, even if they really encounter it, isn't there also a group of forbidden troops, in fact, the kind of problem that Du Yan said almost never happens.

However, as soon as Du Yan said this, Ding Wei's other henchmen began to echo him.

"Yes, yes, at least it has to be a battle-hardened general."

"Yes, how can you send a little baby?"

Chen Yaozuo listened to the discussion of the ministers, and said loudly: "Everyone, don't forget who knocked down the Liao people's Ulzhou City!" ”

As soon as these words came out, Du Yan and the others were dumbfounded, this is a real military feat, they have the heart to refute, but they don't know where to start.

At this time, Ding Wei said: "It's true to capture Ulzhou, but according to the old man, Li Ce is more of a planner, right?" This is different from this escort mission, it has to be able to fight! ”

Ding Wei is much more powerful than those who can only flatter and pat horses, so many years of experience in political struggle, so that he can see the problem at a glance, if you want to attack the opponent, you must first find the opponent's flaws.

This time, Chen Yaozuo and the others were speechless, Ding Wei was also the truth, Chen Yaozuo knew that Li Ce was rooted, and his apprentice's brain was aura, but the kung fu of his hands was quite sparse and ordinary, and even said that two or three months ago, this kid didn't know martial arts at all!

Lu Zongdao snorted: "Your Excellency, what you said is wrong, which do you think is more important than strategy, or force?" ”

Lu Zongdao's age is not in vain, especially the boss of the middle stage of the imperial history, after so many years of experience as a speech official, he is definitely the first person in the dynasty. The question he asked was very tricky, this strategy and force just represented the civil and military disputes of the Song Dynasty, and the strategy represented the literati, because the Song Dynasty implemented the strategy of using literature to control the military, although the leaders were warriors, but the real decision-making was often the civil officials, and the military force was naturally the military attaché.

No matter which one Ding Wei says, it is not good for him, and he also knows the trap, so he does not answer.

After several rounds of confrontations, both sides have their own winners and losers, and no one can help anyone for a while.

Fan Zhongyan suddenly spoke: "Weichen thinks that Duyu Marquis Li Ce is fully capable of keeping his ministers. ”

The two rows of people looked at Fan Zhongyan in unison, Ding Wei glared at him fiercely, the meaning of the threat in his eyes was self-evident, the reason why he gave in easily just now was that he wanted to wait for the next dynasty to draw Fan Zhongyan into his camp, but now it seems that he has looked away.

"Lord Fan, this is not only your personal safety, but also the development of the imperial court's rectification of officials at this time." Jiang Zongren, the secretary of Dali Temple, reminded.

Ding Wei's face became cold, this Fan Zhongyan was so ignorant! Since a strategy has been lost, then this accompanying guard position has to be taken down! If it's all Zhao Zhen's people, then even if there is nothing at that time, I'm afraid I will have to find out something! Especially this Li Ce, the speed of this kid's recent rise can only be described as a steady rise, if he is allowed to grow, I am afraid that it will bring endless trouble to himself.

The reason why Ding Wei has been able to sit firmly in the phase for more than ten years is because he can always detect the potential factors that pose a threat to him early and eliminate them in time!

Ding Wei felt that he had tolerated this little emperor enough during this time, and the reason why he was like this was because he knew that the Empress Dowager Liu E was already a little dissatisfied with him, and he was not afraid of Zhao Zhen, but he was a little jealous of Liu E, after all, many important ministers in the court were her people. But this little emperor is actually pressing step by step, and he let him once or twice He is still addicted, hum! It seems that if I don't give you some color, look at you, you really think I'm old!

"The minister suggests that brave and good fighters be selected from the three divisions to take on the responsibility of guarding this time!" Ding Wei suddenly said loudly, and his attitude was extremely tough.

As soon as Ding Wei spoke, Du Yan, Jiang Zongren and others echoed one after another: "The ministers agree with the Prime Minister's proposal. For a while, most people in the court were supporting Ding Wei.

Chen Yaozuo, Zhang Shixun, Lu Zongdao, Fan Zhongyan and others' faces became extremely ugly, Ding Wei dared to be so arrogant!

Zhao Zhen was so angry that his chest rose and fell sharply, Ding Wei was so different from forcing the palace to do this! He couldn't help but turn his head to look at the Queen Mother Liu E, but found that the Queen Mother seemed to be thinking about something, and she didn't look at the court at all.

Zhao Ji watched the excitement from the sidelines, he secretly laughed at Zhao Zhen's weakness in his heart, and had the heart to burn a fire for him again: "The courtier's brother also thinks that the suggestion of the competition is fair, it is better to let the two of them compete, and the one who wins will go, and naturally no one will criticize it again." ”

Zhao Zhenqiang held back his anger, and said with a straight face: "This time the thorough investigation of the salt field case is urgent, how can I have time to compete again, I think it is Li Cexing." ”

Zhao Ji sneered: "Brother Huang is a bit nepotistic like this, right?" Zhao Ji dared to say this, he was angry that Zhao Zhen punished him yesterday and punished him for his money, so he deliberately added chaos and gave Zhao Zhen a headache.

Liu E saw that the entire court was arguing for only two positions today, and finally couldn't help but speak: "Just for one position, a group of you people are arguing, and in the fair period of the old body, let's follow what King Xiaoyuan just said." ”

Liu E wasn't listening to their discussion just now, she just thought it was the way of health preservation that the female Taoist priest told her. It was only later that when she saw that they were arguing, she only heard Zhao Ji say that the method of the competition, and felt that this method was more fair, so she decided on this method.

Empress Dowager Liu spoke, and no one objected to the ministers, but some sensitive ministers had already sniffed a hint of it, and the person His Majesty liked was Li Ce, but King Xiaoyuan said that he would try to decide, but in the end, the Queen Mother agreed with King Xiaoyuan's proposal......

A trace of loneliness passed through Zhao Zhen's heart, he clenched his fists tightly, but saw Zhao Ji raise his head at him proudly.

Liu E didn't take into account Zhao Zhen's feelings at all, and continued: "Since you want to investigate it thoroughly, how can you only inspect one Cangzhou, since there is corruption in Cangzhou Salt Farm, then there are other places, I think even Hebei West Road, Yongxing Military Road, and Qinfeng Road are inspected together!" ”

All the ministers shouted in unison: "Queen Mother Shengming! ”

Ding Wei glanced at Zhao Zhen lightly, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly.

After the early court, as soon as the ministers retreated, Zhao Zhen instructed the little eunuch beside him: "Xiao Lizi, you go to the palace to inform Li Ce of the content of today's court meeting, pass on my message, let him prepare for his life, and be sure to win the task of guarding this time!" ”

The little eunuch knew that the matter was urgent, and hurried away after receiving the order.

Zhao Zhen stood next to the dragon chair in the Zichen Palace, a ray of sunshine from the morning sun spilled into the hall, and it was a little dazzling by the reflection of the bright floor, Zhao Zhen had an indescribable bitterness in his heart, he looked at the backs of the ministers in the morning light, and sighed slowly......

"Wait!" The figure of the little eunuch was about to disappear outside the Zichen Palace, and Zhao Zhen suddenly shouted again.

The little eunuch couldn't help but look back when he heard Zhao Zhen's shouting.

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said, "You don't have to go, I will go in person later." ”